Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isfahan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isfahan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $478 in Isfahan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $833 in Isfahan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,188 in Isfahan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 165% more than Isfahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Isfahan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Isfahan 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$3.02 $3.02

55.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$10.65 $10.65

326.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

$3.03 $3.03

178.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$0.82 $0.82

257.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.48 $0.48

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

$0.94 $0.94

-60.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$0.55 $0.55

305.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.42 $0.42

335.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$2.28 $2.28

-4.82%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$1.50 $1.50

47.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$2.81 $2.81

602.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.11 $3.11

16.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.98 $9.98

35.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.63 $0.63

420.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$1.41 $1.41

14.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

$1.05 $1.05

129.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.56 $0.56

271.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

$0.61 $0.61

150.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

$0.48 $0.48

208.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

$0.58 $0.58

70.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$0.21 $0.21

142.86%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.08 $2.08

112.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

$0.29 $0.29

372.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$13.06 $13.06

-12.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

$0.52 $0.52

480.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

$0.31 $0.31

219.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$1.97 $1.97

615.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

$0.84 $0.84

61.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.9K

$67.9K $67.9K

-58.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$59.8K $59.8K

-44.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,978

$14.84 $14.84

720.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿444

$1.87 $1.87

625.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$7.62 $7.62

140.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

$13.36 $13.36

350.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$10.70 $10.70

60.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$1.09 $1.09

697.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.7K

$71.9 $71.9

864.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

$579 $579

2607.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

$18.06 $18.06

229.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

$24.12 $24.12

44.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

$85.8 $85.8

33.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

$36.61 $36.61

127.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$291 $291

110.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$193 $193

126.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

$899 $899

133.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$532 $532

183.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

$1,200 $1,200

212.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

$717 $717

264.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$207 $207

145.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

26.86

-80.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Isfahan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $291 in Isfahan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 145% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $11.00 in Isfahan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $105 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Phuket vs Isfahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 165% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $717 in Isfahan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $11.00 in Isfahan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $478 in Isfahan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $478 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.